Sunday, December 10, 2006

An email from the DX files

Some of this isn't new as I have already talked theears off of some of you -- be careful ears on thefloor may be a tripping hazard in the back room. Please pass the information along to anyone who wantsto know.

Brenna has been diagnosed with type 1 (insulindependent) diabetes. Her pancreas has for an unknownreason stopped producing insulin (doctors have lots oftheories but they really don't know for sure whatcauses this. They say that "envornmental & geneticfactors" play a role but they are still researching). She will not grow out of it. Right now our focus ismaking it a part of our daily lives. We are working ona routine and once I figure out the carbs for herregular meals and snacks I'll be able to make a moreregular menu. There is so much to learn. We'rekeeping things matter of fact - not fussing over herafter finger pokes or shots - "ouch, that hurt wouldyou like to color or play with playdough?"

Brenna is such a trooper she already picks a fingerfor the glucose test! She still whimpers and squirmswhen I give her insulin. When the nurse at thehospital gave me a shot (with saline in it) it didn'thurt much but when I let Brenna pick one of my fingersand used the lanset it hurt for awhile -- I must bedoing something wrong with the shots. For the momentwe're using a sliding scale for insulin doses based onpre-food glucose.She has 3 kinds of insulin and I give her between 3 to5 shots a day- usually 4 or 5 at the moment but herdiabetes nurse tells me that it will change as shegrows.

Thank you for all of your good wishes and support. Thecards were wonderful. I keep them in her diabetesfolder and break them out when ever I need to "hear"your advice & kind words.

Thank you,Amber

P.S. If any one knows of any good books about this orcarb counting let me know.

1 comment:

I have just come across your blog and I wanted to let you know I'm listening. I am sorry that Brenna has been diagnosed with diabetes. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was six, a little over twenty years ago. I'm 27 yeras old now and am very healthy, strong, and educated about my condition. It hasn't stopped me from accomplishing any of my goals. And I don't anticipate letting it.

I can't imagine what you are going through or feeling, but I can say that she will be okay. It's a very difficult journey, with every diabetic experiencing a unique variation on the same theme: How do I keep this under control?

If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions, or send any resources your way. Even if you would like to speak with my mother, I would be more than happy to put you in contact with her.

I write over at Six Until Me (thanks for linking me, by the way!) and I have a lot of diabetes blogs listed on my blogroll. There are many parents of diabetic children who are blogging. Reading their stories may help you. And check out some of the blogs written by people with diabetes. Reading their stories may help you feel more confident about Brenna's beautiful future.

Feel free to email me at kerri @ sixuntilme . com. And all the best to your little girl.

About Me

I'm a working mom with a husband and three beautiful children. My oldest has been diagnosed with high-functioning autism (I suspect my hubby is on the spectrum too), my youngest has type 1 diabetes, and I worry about my sweet boy in the middle.